For Hudson County mayors, employee salary caps represent the chisel, binding arbitration reform the hammer, and more flexible Civil Service rules the ax that could hack away at rising property taxes.

In a Democratic-controlled county, mayors are welcoming Republican Gov. Chris Christie's "tool kit" reforms with open toolboxes. Without them, they fear municipal services will have to be drastically cut to stay within the 2 percent property tax cap that takes effect next year.

Union City Mayor and state Sen. Brian Stack issued a call to his colleagues this week to support Christie's proposed legislation.

"The passage of this legislative package is critical to the responsible operation of our municipalities," Stack said. "Such measures are practical, affording mayors the means to effectively govern."

An arbitrator recently awarded firefighters in his town a 17.25 percent raise over five years, which Kearny unsuccessfully appealed. As a result, the mayor says, the town is set to lay off 16 employees Jan. 1.

Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said arbitration reform is long overdue, but questioned how successful it would be.

"You can change the rules all you want, but the arbitrators have a tendency to not take into consideration the impact on the taxpayers," he said.

Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer is leading a discussion on Christie's "tool kit" at the New Jersey League of Municipalities convention in Atlantic City today. Zimmer applauded Stack's support of the legislation.

"Mayors need to stand together to fight for what is best for our cities," she said yesterday.

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy said that without the proposed reforms it will be near impossible to stay within the 2 percent cap without "causing a further reduction in services, which will hamper effective and efficient government."